(a) whether the Railways have signed an agreement with US firm ASF Keystone for the acquisition and Transfer of Technology (ToT) of the next-generation Amstead bogies project under ‘Make in India’ initiative;
(b) if so, the details and the salient features of the said agreement;
(c) whether the said firm would also assist the Railways to set up manufacturing facilities in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) & (b): Agreements for purchase of 4000 Heavy Haul Track-Friendly bogies (32.5/25 T Axle Load) for Broad Gauge Wagons (1676mm) and Transfer of Technology (ToT) have been signed on 20.01.2011 and 11.08.2009 respectively between Indian Railways and M/s. ASF Keystone, United States of America. The project was executed before ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The salient features of the agreements are:
i) The contract has been placed for supply of 4000 track-friendly bogies along with the transfer of its technology. Thus both the contracts – for supply of bogies as well as for Transfer of Technology are linked to each other.
ii) Supply of spare parts of bogies for 4000 bogies shall be done by the firm for eight years from delivery of the 4000 bogies.
iii) Transfer of Technology contract shall enable Indian Railways to fully assimilate the technology to manufacture these 32.5/ 25T heavy haul track friendly bogies in Indian Railways’ workshops/ Production Units and/or third party vendors or in joint venture, for meeting the requirement of bogies on Indian Railways.
iv) Under the terms of Transfer of Technology contract, the Contractor shall supply necessary technical information, technical clarifications and technical assistance in future for any improve- ments in design for increasing axle load capacity and further performance improvements etc.
(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. The Contractor shall assist Indian Railways to license three Steel Foundries in India for manufacturing the bogies/bogie components.
(e): The Contract envisages 38 months for implementation of the project subject to successful completion of oscillation and field trials thereafter. Four prototype bogies for doing oscillation trials have been received and three oscillation trials have already been conducted.